Chicago Ukrainian community feels disappointed by President Trump’s reported attempts to resolve Ukraine conflict with Russia

CHICAGO (WLS) — Members of the local Ukrainian community are responding to an escalating war of words between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Trump is living in a disinformation space.

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In a social media post Tuesday, Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections.”

And, he said the Ukrainian president needs to move quickly to negotiate an end to the war with Russia or risk not having a country to lead.

Trump is trying to negotiate a deal to end the fighting. Ukraine says the terms are too favorable to Russia.

There is strong reaction in the Ukrainian community.

“We just feel betrayed, most Ukrainians here in the United States,” Ukrainian American Roman Panychevnyy said.

Pannychevnyy said the cost of this war is felt by all Ukrainians.

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“My friend from school died last week. Probably every Ukrainian family has someone who was on the front line and died,” Panychevnyy said.

The manager and host at Radio UA Chicago, Dmytro Halan, said many Ukrainians who could vote voted for Trump on his promise of ending the war.

“It’s challenging for us because we have suffered significant losses,” Halan expressed. “I believe it’s crucial to collaborate closely with the United States. Our ability to resist would be severely compromised without their support.”

On Tuesday, Trump made the false allegation that Ukraine started the war.

“Well, you’ve been in office for three years. The conflict should have been resolved by now. Ideally, it shouldn’t have started in the first place. Negotiations could have been pursued,” remarked Trump.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

“Literally, it’s not true that Ukraine attacked Russia. It’s not true that Ukraine was the aggressor,” University of Chicago professor Konstantin Sonin said.

Sonin is a Russian living in exile, and was sentenced in absentia for being critical of the Russian government.

“It’s kind of disheartening because countries around the world look at the United States as an example,” Sonin said. “There is some goodness in being the leader of the democratic world. So, as setting an example, this is not good.”